Governments or People ? How and When should the U.S. take Sides ?
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At the Moment, the U.S. has troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and has been trying to help each country develop a stable, democratic government that protects individual rights before we pull out completely. Historically, the Arab world has not been democratic. Those stable countries which have most prospered have had almost dictatorial governments, however benovolent. However, when times are tough, and it is perceived that government do not carry out their responsibilities to the people, people do rise up. After wikileaks info revealed to Tunisians the corruption of their government, they rose up and over a few weeks drove their president from power. This week, sparked by the success of the Tunisian people, the Egyptian people have risen up against their government to demand democratic reforms. Riots have occurred in cities throughout the country and the military has been called out to impose order. Unrest continues... and the government- a key U.S. ally in the war on terror that has received billions in U.S. foreign aid is tottering towards collapse. It seems now that Yemen is about to erupt in public demonstrations- with the Yemeni goverment also having been key to U.S. anti terror efforts since 9-11.
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So, where should the U.S. stand ? Should we work with the governments ? the people ? both ? How ? Should we get involved, or stay out ? With U.S. military forces in the region is there any circumstance where they might be deployed ? What about U.S. citizens who are living in, working in, or simply visiting these countries?
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One year after our Constitution was ratified- the same year Washington took office as our first president, similar uprisings took place in France. He tried to keep the U.S. neutral. Did that work then ? Would it work now ?
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This discussion will run until Sunday, February 7th.
Governments or People ? How and When should the U.S. take Sides ?
.At the Moment, the U.S. has troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and has been trying to help each country develop a stable, democratic government that protects individual rights before we pull out completely. Historically, the Arab world has not been democratic. Those stable countries which have most prospered have had almost dictatorial governments, however benovolent. However, when times are tough, and it is perceived that government do not carry out their responsibilities to the people, people do rise up. After wikileaks info revealed to Tunisians the corruption of their government, they rose up and over a few weeks drove their president from power. This week, sparked by the success of the Tunisian people, the Egyptian people have risen up against their government to demand democratic reforms. Riots have occurred in cities throughout the country and the military has been called out to impose order. Unrest continues... and the government- a key U.S. ally in the war on terror that has received billions in U.S. foreign aid is tottering towards collapse. It seems now that Yemen is about to erupt in public demonstrations- with the Yemeni goverment also having been key to U.S. anti terror efforts since 9-11.
.
So, where should the U.S. stand ? Should we work with the governments ? the people ? both ? How ? Should we get involved, or stay out ? With U.S. military forces in the region is there any circumstance where they might be deployed ? What about U.S. citizens who are living in, working in, or simply visiting these countries?
.
One year after our Constitution was ratified- the same year Washington took office as our first president, similar uprisings took place in France. He tried to keep the U.S. neutral. Did that work then ? Would it work now ?
.
This discussion will run until Sunday, February 7th.